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Ashen

In order for Roebuck to reclaim her worth, she created Ashen, where she has centered herself within this piece surrounded by a bed of flowers. This piece is comprised of ornate flowers in the shape of a triangle broken off with ornate curtains that resemble an interior setting. Ashen depicts the lingering past of not feeling whole within Roebuck’s skin complexion and the continuous search of wholeness as a biracial person. There are several flowers seen throughout this piece, but the use of Dahlia’s symbolizes a specific meaning throughout Ashen. While there are various meanings that are associated with Dahlia’s, this piece is specifically referencing the inner strength it takes to overcome the shame of not knowing how to care for your own skin. The Black Dahlia flower which symbolizes sadness and correlates to the woman who yelled at Roebuck at a young age. The various colors of Dahlias, such as orange, pink, black (dark burgundy) tells a story of sadness and self-assurance. This piece is an altar, creating a space of healing.  

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The Lingering Sound of Your Voice

 

Imprinted on the eight-yr-old

 

Like a Leaf Cast Within a Rock

 

Never to be Escaped

 

Always Haunting

 

Always Shouting

 

Ashy

 

Ashy

 

Ashy

 

Ashy

 

The Frightened Child

 

Recoiled

 

Within Her Rock

 

Left to Harden

 

And Fear

 

That the Biracial Child

 

Wasn’t Enough

Fellow Feeling 

Fellow Feeling depicts the bond of two siblings and the acts of an older sister taking care of her younger brother’s hair. Through experiences and passed down knowledge, the love for natural hair for the brother has always been there. However, through several traumatic experiences and the glaring eyes of society that wasn’t always the case for the older sister. Through trial and error, the love and appreciation of natural hair become present for both siblings. Transpiring a bond of care and love between siblings. ​

Deserving II

Better Than Blood

​This piece is specifically about Roebuck’s mother and her relationship and how she has always taken care of her hair. More specifically, how Roebuck’s mother taught her to take care of her hair. Through being adopted by a white family there have been a lot of trial and error in terms of how Roebuck or someone else has cared for her hair. Some incidents include Roebuck picking out half of her hair when she was about eight years old, catching her hair on fire, wanting/getting bangs, cutting her hair incorrectly, and salons burning her curls. This piece is not only depicting how Roebuck’s mother has cared for her hair, but it is also depicting a story of how she came to be adopted. Within the background of the piece there is a hidden text from a poem Roebuck’s mother wrote to her on her 18th birthday, describing the joy of adopting Roebuck. 

Not Blood, But Blood

This piece is depicting Roebuck and her adoptive brother, touching on how people look at them and often assume that they are twins based solely on their facial appearances. This piece is not only depicting prejudices placed upon each of them, but also depicting a relationship between a brother and sister. The tulips depicted throughout the entire piece, specifically symbolizes the bond between siblings whether of blood or not.